“Oh my God, he’s the guy with the golden!” A woman with blue hair jumps up. I remember her from a walk around town. “That dog loves him. Dogs don’t like bad people.”
What. Is. Happening??
Mrs. DaRosa taps on the microphone in front of her, drawing attention back to the front. Jordan Porter scowls at her and she gives him afuck yousmile.
“Zander was once my student. I always saw potential in him. I can confirm he’s exactly what these people think. He’s grown into a wonderful man. We would be lucky to have him in town.”
She gets fucking applause. Am I in a movie? Am I being punked? Over the next few minutes, at least twenty people stand up and defend me, including my grandmother’s mystery lover. I didn’t even know Iknewtwenty people here. I cover my mouth with a hand in some shitty attempt to hold myself together. It’s hard to breathe.
What the fuck? What the fuck, Beaver Creek?
“He makes my daughter happy. He takes care of her and makes her feel worthy. I should have seen that long ago, but I see it now.”
Mr. Ramsay looks at me as he says it. He gives me a nod. It’s hesitant: an olive branch.
Addie squeezes me. She’s beaming. At her gleeful giggle, I lose it. I have to stare down at a chip in the flooring to stop my shoulders from shaking. I wipe at my tears, but they just keep coming.
What the fuck?
No one has ever been this nice to me. This is not my perception of myself. I thought I was stormy and self-reliant. Scared and alone.
But I’m talented, kind, wonderful, respectful, charming, funny, magic, witty, creative,cool.
Jesus Christ.
“I love this man,” Addie says. “And, quite frankly, I don’t care if you hate him. That’s your loss. But he deserves to be here if he chooses.”
“I agree,” Mayor Goodwell says. She bangs a gavel on the table in front of her. “Motion denied.”
A weight lifts from my chest. Holy shit.
I might pass out.
I float through the rest of the meeting. I don’t have words, or, evidently, thoughts. All I know is Addie, Lucy, and so many supporters I didn't know existed are here for me.
The meeting breaks without my knowledge, an hour has passed, as has the storm outside. The sidewalk is wet, but the sun is shining down.
“What the fuck?” I say in front of Addie’s car.
She shakes her head, then throws herself at me. Our lips meet in triumph. Her kisses are hot and hurried, her fingers twisting in the hair at the back of my neck.
“Peggy’s a genius. She got all these people who adore you. God, I love you,” she says. She looks like she’s about to launch into a big speech, when her eyes shift. “Hold on. Hey, Willow!”
My head snaps in her cousin’s direction. She’s pissed. There’s anger brewing below the surface. Anger I know all too well and am kind of concerned about turning physical. I grab Addie’s wrist. She meets my eyes and shrugs.
“Or should I say Hazel? Have you found another tree?”
“What do you want?” Willow asks.
“You. Gone,” Addie says. “I’m done this time. I’ve been too nice for too long. It’s my house and I’m sorry it got left to my mom instead of your dad, but neither of us can change that. I don’t want you here anymore. If you want to stay in Beaver Creek, you’re finding your own space.”
Willow’s face goes slack. “You don’t mean that.”
“I really do.”
“This is coming from him, isn’t it?”
Addie looks back at me, just as shocked as Willow. Shocked, but so fucking proud.
